Geonoma undata subsp. undata Information

Geonoma undata subsp. undata Information

Identification:
Understorey or subcanopy palm. Stem solitary, to 12 m tall and 15 cm in diameter. Leaf blade 150-250 cm long, with up to 50 unequal segments on each side, these strongly folded logitudinally and very hard in texture, usually somewhat shining above, spreading in one or several planes. Inflorescence branched 3-4 times, to 60 cm long and at least as wide; peduncle stout, 40-65 cm long; prophyll and peduncular bract of equal length, smooth or somewhat furrowed, deciduous; flower bearing branches 25-30 cm long, 8-12 mm in diameter, folded in bud; flower pits loosely arranged, 4-7 mm apart, large, 2-4 mm across, with a conspicuous upper lip. Female flowers with staminodes united into a tube. Fruits bluish black, to 15 mm in diameter.

General Information:
A poorly understood species. Together with Ceroxylon parvifrons Geonoma undata grows at the highest altitude of any palm in the world. At 3000+ m it tolerates frost and snow.

Distribution:

Native to, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

In Andean regions of South America from Venezuela to Bolivia at 1964(550-3370) m elevation in montane rainforest.

Location: Ecuador (10.111649°N, -63.808594°E)

Observations